(Walnut) Walnut will join forces with AHST for all boys and girls sports beginning next school year. The Walnut school board voted unanimously on Tuesday to join all boys sports beginning in the fall of 2012. The board also voted 3-2 to join all of the girls sports with AHST, a vote that reportedly was met with some criticism from Walnut parents.

Messages were left for both Walnut Activities Director Jeff Koenck and AHST Activities Director Jeremy Hissem as neither were available for comment Wednesday afternoon.

Walnut has had success in several sports over the years but their baseball tradition stands out with four trips to the state tournament. Current head coach Trey Brix has been a part of that baseball tradition as both a player and a coach leading the Warriors to a close loss in the substate final last year.

Coach Brix shared his reaction with KSOM/KS95.7 sports Wednesday saying, “It’s disappointing but hopefully it’s what works out best for the kids.”